Newsletter – August 2014
New APC Rally App
We now have an APC rally App. This allows riders to enter our events and buy riding gear using their iphone or Android phone.
Just go into apps on your phone and search for APC RALLY or you can download the app using the links below
Australian Safari
APC rally team are going to the last Australian Safari. The week before we are pre running tracks for the ADVX on the Western Australia coast line. During this event we will be posting photos and news. We are not exactly having the usual well planned safari team approach.
Bike? Anything orange. Hartley’s 700 RR if I can find one – bloody things are so good KTM have none spare.
Support truck : Ken Dark is on a 4WD holiday in Western Australia so I asked him to come and carry my swag and two jerry cans. DONE!!!
Bathurt 1000 to The Gold Coast
Have the Bathurst 1000 ride coming up. Our mates at SP Tools just had a win last weekend at Ipswich.
We still have positions available on this ride which is going from Bathurst to the Gold Coast.
Here the entry details: Bathurst 1000 to Gold Coast entry form.
NSW and VIC Trailrides update
We have had several riders who live in small towns contact us about organising a ride to help the local school making money. Our plan is to replicate the Dalby Moto series in NSW and VIC. Just email me if you are interested.
NEW APC Trail riding series with racing attached
(LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK AND HELP)
For the last 20 years there has been the Dalby Moto trail ride series in South East Queensland which, on average, gets 500 riders to 17 different rides per year. The reason this series has been so popular is because there are usually two 50 km loops on private property as well as novice tracks and kids tracks held over a week-end. Everyone camps and it’s a huge social event. The rides cost between $60-$90 per rider for 2 days.
I need to set the record straight by saying that Craig Hartley is the man behind the Dalby Moto series and all I have ever done was help mark out courses and do some sweep work. I am working with him as an events co-ordinator to try and help roll out these rides across the country. In other words, Craig will get involved once I have the locations sorted. Hopefully I will help him make some money for the last 20 years of work he has done for the sport.
Helping Local School
The local school P&C makes most of the money but they provide the 50 volunteers as well as co-ordinate the local private property owners. The key is that the tracks are arrowed and are one way and they are usually fresh formed bike tracks – all on private property which allows un-licensed riders, without rego, to come and play. What we are looking at is attaching racing to some of these events. The schools will be paid their share then our company will charge an extra fee for racing and our management fee. We plan on using the first day loop for racing on the Sunday. The tracks are well formed and there are multiple lines in most parts of the track just like GNCC. (American event)
We intend on making a true national series and are looking for help all over Australia. We are hoping that you can use your skills on a motorbike to help bring 15-30k revenue to your local schools by helping them put courses together and going and talking to the P&C to help convince them that in one weekend of volunteering they can make very good money.
APC Rally’s Involvement
The APC Rally team will work as a consultants to bring it all together with expertise in running events and advise on gaining insurance. Our business model allows the school P&C to start up with no cost. We supply a pre registration website to bring in revenue to help pay cost upfront. The marketing costs are paid by APC because the schools have no money to get started.
Once these events are on our calendar there is no reason why the school cannot continue for the next 50 years running the same event each year at the same date. Some rides in Queensland get close to 1,700 entries. The trail riders will always outnumber the racing and they help to fund all the infrastructure cost for the racing. It’s a sponsors dream because – the money they spend on racing will get some great exposure.
The key to success is to find a local school no more than 300 km from a major city where there is some private land attached to the show grounds or sporting grounds. After costs, $40 per rider will go to the school. The schools do really well from running a food tent and selling beer. If the P&C can approach the property owners, then you help put a course together using your experience on a bike. We would also recommend that you invite some P&C members to a trail ride in Qld to learn the format.
What We’d Like
The goal is to have 14 rides in NSW, 10 rides in VIC, 2 in South Australia, 1 in Tasmania and 2 in WA. Schools who fluff around too long will probably miss out because we can only have one ride per year in an area.
We would select the best tracks for a national GNCC type series – this will take 2 years to get sorted – but we could have trail rides up and running in 18 months if we can get some help.
Not many of us will be remembered for our riding skills but here is a chance to help the sport grow and for it to be accepted in the local community – you could be the one who made it happen!! ( We might be dirt biking scum but the kids who benefit from this may see us a little different in years to come).
This trail ride series is to help service
- Kids who want to ride in the bush and don’t want to race
- Riders who own unregistered bikes and do so because of cost
- Families who like to go on a road trip together and then camp out and all have a ride and know that their kids are safe on kids only directional tracks with a safety system in place
Helping Promote Dirt Bike Riding
Enduro racing numbers have been in decline since 1990. Many are more qualified than me as to say why, but the common theme is the lack of private property to produce good tracks. Their numbers are now so low that a local school P&C would not make any money from holding a race event, and this is why they need trail rides to go forward. Private property owners will help out their local school but have shown resistance to do the same for the local motorcycle club and as for State forests, their rules don’t allow for kids so what future is in that!!
If you can spare 1 week of pre riding and can set up meetings with the P&C then please call or email me. I will then make sure you receive information as we develop the series.
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